Students will write a 3-4 page, double-spaced paper (Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, 1 inch margins) analyzing three primary sources based on
decolonization from sources found in Todd Shepard’s, Voices of Decolonization. Shepard, Todd. Voices of Decolonization: A Brief History with Documents.
Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2014
Essays must reach 3/4 down the second page for your assignment to reach the 3-page minimum. Avoid spelling and grammatical errors. Please proofread
your paper or run it through Grammerly.com (there is a free version you should be able to use)
Your analysis must include 1) historical context of the sources 2) a clear thesis that answers the prompt questions above 3) Quotes from the sources that
support your argument and are cited in Chicago style citation. See Owl Purdue Citation Guide and the sample below for help on citations.
Guiding Questions Your paper will address the following questions: What do the sources reveal about the time period, peoples, or cultures/How do these
sources add to my understanding of the time period, peoples, or cultures? What is the significance of the sources? Here are some guiding questions to help
you properly contextualize the source. You may not be able to answer every question but including whatever information you have may be helpful in your
analysis. Place the source in historical context: Who wrote it? When and where was it written? What do you know about the author? If authorship is unknown,
what relevant details about that time period can you include? What do you know about the motives and goals of the author? Why was it written? Who is the
intended audience? Classify the source: What kind of work is it? (Pamphlet? Painting? Oral history?) Argument and Evidence: What is the main point the
author is trying to make? Summarize their thesis if there is one. What evidence does the author provide to support their argument? What biases or values
does the source reflect? What insights does the source provide on the society or culture it comes from? Awareness of your biases – you should be aware of
these but not include them in your essay. What presumptions and or preconceptions do we as readers in 2022 bring to the text? How might our values differ
from the author’s and how might that influence how we understand the source?